National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Invites Crown Prince to Become New King of Thailand

Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn attends mourns the death of his father King Bhumibol.

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BANGKOK – Thailand’s President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) said in a televised announcement that Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn would be invited to ascend the throne after the cabinet earlier on Tuesday formally asked parliament to begin the process of installing a new monarch.

Members of the National Legislative Assembly stood up during a short parliamentary session and shouted: “Long live the king!”

The prince will have to accept parliament’s invitation in order for him to be proclaimed king, according to established procedure.

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said: “We expect an audience [with Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn] within the next one to two days.”

Two senior military sources said Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn would fly into Bangkok on Wednesday from Germany, where he has a home.

Reuters reported exclusively on Oct. 31 that Thailand was making preparations for the crown prince to ascend the throne on Dec. 1, 2016.

The death of the much loved King Bhumibol on Oct. 13 plunged the Southeast Asian nation into mourning. Most Thais have known no other monarch.

King Bhumibol, who was the longest-serving head of state in the world when he died at the age of 88, played a stabilizing role during decades of often violent conflict in Thailand.

The crown prince’s invitation to become monarch will likely allay some public concerns the succession might not go according to plan.

KING RAMA X

Prince Vajiralongkorn, who will be known as King Rama X, or the 10th king of the 234-year-old Chakri Dynasty, can only be formally crowned after his father’s royal cremation, which will take place next year.

Thailand will begin building the late king’s funeral pyre next year and 8,000 people will be involved in the cremation ceremony, the government said last week.

The prince has not spoken publicly since his father’s death and news about his plans has come through the government.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said last month the prince had asked to delay the succession in order to grieve with the public.

In a departure from the usual Tuesday cabinet meeting, members of the cabinet and the junta met jointly at Bangkok’s Government House on Tuesday, according to a Reuters reporter.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty the Queen has returned to the Chitralada Palace from Chulalongkorn hospital on Tuesday after doctors have declared that her condition has improved substantially and returned to almost normal following treatment of lung inflammation.

According to Thai PBS the Bureau of the Royal Household reported, HM the Queen does not have any fever, is fully alert, can walk and eat well with only slight coughing following medical treatment at the hospital.